Zurich blackmailer demands 165,000 francs – court pronounces verdict!
A Zurich man was convicted of extortion after demanding 165,000 francs to withdraw a building appeal.

Zurich blackmailer demands 165,000 francs – court pronounces verdict!
A grueling legal dispute and a surprising turnaround in a neighborhood project are currently preoccupying people in the Zurich region. A Zurich man who demanded 165,000 francs from his neighbor in order to withdraw a building appeal has now been convicted of extortion by the Horgen district court. Against this background, many are keeping their fingers crossed for the senior citizen, who lived in her single-family home on Lake Zurich for over five decades and feared the prospect of her beloved body of water.
The case began when the senior citizen expressed concerns about a planned new building project on the neighboring property. Her son, who wanted to protect against the impending changes, appealed against the building permit after he discovered discrepancies in the construction project. Initially, the client, a real estate company, offered 20,000 francs to withdraw the appeal, but the son sensed an opportunity and demanded 165,000 francs to compensate for his mother's expected loss in value. The money was ultimately paid and the appeal was history.
Court convicts blackmailer
But the story doesn't end there. Around two years after this perfidious transaction, the real estate company reported the man, which led to blackmail proceedings. The public prosecutor expressed concerns that such neighbors are increasingly using appeals as a means of pressure to gain advantages. The court made it clear that the accused had no legal right to the sum demanded and handed down a conditional prison sentence of twelve months, which was suspended for a period of two years. The convicted person not only has to pay back the 165,000 francs with interest, but also has to pay a fine of 3,000 francs and the costs of the proceedings.
Blackmail, as discussed here, should not be underestimated. As an expert explains, it is a serious offense that is regulated in German criminal law under Section 253 of the Criminal Code. Typically, extortion carries a prison sentence of up to five years, depending on the circumstances of the case. The court clearly stated that even smaller amounts can, in practice, lead to a legal conviction.
The impact on the neighborhood
The real estate company's new building has now been completed and the new residents have already moved in. The situation remains tense for the senior citizen, even though the legal conflict has now come to an end. The judgment is not yet legally binding. This shows once again how complicated and turbulent neighborhood matters can be.
With this decision, the district court has sent a signal that legal claims and their enforcement cannot be achieved through threats and blackmail. Against this background, many people ask themselves: How can harmonious coexistence be promoted despite conflicts in the neighborhood?
The case involving the elderly woman and her son will continue to be a lesson for everyone who is concerned about their interests in their own neighborhood. This story shows that the pursuit of justice can sometimes take unexpected turns.
The excellently prepared information is available for anyone who would like to learn more about the legal basis of blackmail anwal.de to find.
For further details on this exciting case and the reactions of the parties concerned, we refer to the reporting by tagesanzeiger.ch and nau.ch.